ESCAPED killer William Todd is in a maximum security prison today after police caught him in his old backyard of Woodley.

Todd, who escaped from the category B prison at Winchester on Monday last week, was automatically sent to a category A jail after he was recaptured on Saturday.

Todd was arrested in Headley Road East in a joint operation by Thames Valley and Hampshire police - ironically just yards from where he was caught in March after gunning down Arthur De Sousa and Alex El-Hachadi.

He was in a car with three other men and was unarmed, police said. The trio were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender but they have been released without charge.

The 37-year-old had sawn through the bars of his cell at Winchester just 10 weeks into his two life sentences for murdering Mr El-Hachadi (also known as Alex Griffin) and attempting to murder Mr De Sousa.

It was the first break from the prison in 40 years and a Prison Service spokeswoman said today: "He is not back at Winchester.

"He has been moved to a category A prison, but I cannot say which one. It is normal for someone to be immediately upgraded to a category A prisoner after escaping."

Todd initially tried to give officers a false name when the car was stopped just after midnight on Saturday but police instantly recognised him.

"He was unarmed and was detained without incident," a police spokeswoman said.

Mr De Sousa's wife Simone said today Todd's recapture was a weight off her mind.

Headley Road East joins Hurricane Way, where Todd

was arrested at his girlfriend Charlotte Morgan's home after a month on the run following the double shooting in Pangbourne on Saturday, February 17.

The Evening Post understands Miss Morgan no longer lives there. However, Todd's parents also live in the suburb.

Todd had access to false passports but one police officer who knows him said: "I'm not surprised at all he was caught in Woodley. He felt he was one step ahead of the law."

Hampshire police spokesman Kevin Briscoe said: "He is being held at an HM prison and will be interviewed, possibly later today, about the circumstances of his escape by Hampshire officers."

Todd was convicted at Reading Crown Court in September of murder and attempted murder and given the two life sentences.